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Lewis Perdue, Co-Founder

By on March 30, 2014 in Biographies

William Lewis Perdue III
Chairman, Center for Research on Environmental Chemicals in Humans
Co-Principal Investigator, Stealth Syndromes Human Study
Co-Founder, Stealth Syndromes Project
Updated Mar 30, 2014

Education

B.S., Biology (Ecology, Evolution & Systematics) and Communicatipns: With Distinction, Cornell University, 1972

A.S., Math & Science, (First in class, first-ever to graduate with perfect 4.0 GPA), State University of New York (SUNY)/Corning, 1970. Commencement speaker, 2009 for Fiftieth Anniversary of college founding.

Fellowship, Aerospace Engineering: Mississippi State University, summer 1966

Internship:  Nuclear Reactor and Special Purpose Tube Divisions of Westinghouse Electric), summer 1967

Independent Study: Multiple collaborators & mentors including: Dr. Arthur C. Guyton, Dean of the University of Mississippi Medical School; various engineers, NASA, and at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1960-1967

Publications

Many more articles and research at two web sites founded by Perdue: Stealth Syndromes Human Study, and The Stealth Syndromes Project.

Research & Teaching Experience

Cornell University – 1970-72

  • Received the only A+ awarded in an organic chemistry class of 150. Also only student to accurately answer final exam extra credit question to diagram the quantum resonance bonding orbitals of ozone.
  • As a first semester junior, offered a scholarship to change biology major to chemistry after I alerted the department to 27 errors (many in quantum bonding orbital diagrams) in the new text book for organic chemistry.
  • Added communications as an unsanctioned double major. Cornell did not formally support double majors at the time. Because of that, I changed my major to communications at the end of my junior year during which I completed all required courses in just two semesters.
  • Financially self-supporting since age 18: paid for college and living expenses by working as a journalist and photographer. Financial considerations — which included substantial student loan debt — mandated that I interrupt my lifelong passion for science and technology to follow a temporary vocational path in communications instead.
  • Honors program: allowed to take courses at Cornell Law School.
  • Teaching Assistant, Mass Communications Law.

State University of New York (SUNY)/Corning Community College – 1968-1970

  • Independent research: Conducted abiogenesis experiments including complete replication of Miller-Urey experiment confirming that complex organic compounds including vital amino acids, could have been created from simple inorganic compounds during the by postulated primitive environmental conditions which mat have been present on Earth more than 4 billion years ago.
  • Teaching Assistant & Faculty-Appointed Tutor, Calculus, Physics, & Biology

Westinghouse Nuclear & Space Technology Internship — Summer 1967

  • Course work in the theory, instrumentation and practice of nuclear fission, reactor design, and mechanics of neutron cross sections, capture, fission moderation.
  • Responsible for calibrating neutron sensors used in civilian and military reactors. Created custom calibration curves unique for each neutron counter.
  • Responsible for construction of, and suggesting design changes for, solar flux measurement sensor tubes for NASA’s 1969 Mariner 6 Mars flyby.
  • Course work in theory of electron guns used in color cathode ray tubes.
  • Hands on experience with efforts to reduce corner landing misplacement of electron beams in color picture tubes.
  • Course work in the theory of quantum-based spectral output of specific pure elements, primarily metals.
  • Hands on work in the utilization and calibration of the Westinghouse Hollow Cathode spectral output tubes.

Independent Study — 1966-67

Research focus: Magnetohydrodynamics, plasma physics, ultra-high-vacuum physics.

  • Designed and built a magnetohydrodynamic thrust accelerator for space propulsion. The ionized particle stream was provided by a plasma jet. The thruster used sequential electromagnetic field compression to provide thrust.
  • A variation of this is currently used in NASA’s deep space probes such as dawn.
  • Enabling technologies required the design and construction of a plasma jet, functioning proton accelerator, and a six-cubic-foot ultra-high (10-12 Torr)  vacuum chamber and associated electronic and high-voltage electrical systems.

Mississippi State University – Summer 1966

  • Coursework and lab experience in plasma physics, fluid flow instrumentation, mechanical resonance.
  • Collaborated with faculty in further exploring ion thruster linear accelerator.

Independent Study, 1965-66

Mentors: Werner Von Braun, NASA scientists at Redstone Arsenal (George C. Marshall Space Flight Center) and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Research focus: high-energy particle physics, plasma physics, ultra-high-vacuum physics, interplanetary and interstellar particle flux density, ultra-high-vacuum technology

With a suggestion from NASA that they would welcome a way to increase the relatively small thrust of the ion engine as it currently existed, I designed and built a two-stage thruster. And a vacuum chamber capable of 10-12 Torr to simulate the vacuum of outer space.

The first stage was an improved version of my previous ion engine design coupled with a linear particle accelerator for the second stage.

This thruster was designed to use the interplanetary particle flux as fuel. This required an electromagnetic collector to attract and compress a simulated solar plasma (He and H ions). The particles from the collector were then separated using mass spectrometer principles to provide a uniform He+ stream to the particle accelerator.

Dubbed “The Cosmic Engine” by the media, the entire system won a number of awards at the International Science and Engineering Fair.

Independent Study — 1964-65

Research focus: plasma physics, fluidics of ionized gases

  • Completed design and construction of electromagnetic ion space thruster and vacuum chamber required for operation.
  • Exhibited and demonstrated ion space thruster and modulated laser combined under the title, “Space Communications and Propulsion.” Won First Class overall Bay State science fair along with numerous awards from NASA, AAAS and other entities.

Independent Study — 1963-64

Research focus: optical and electromagnetic radiation and high-energy particle physics.

  • Completed construction of a visible spectrum Ne/He ion laser approximately 18 months after the first one was developed by Bell Labs in 1962. Further research into removal of trace contaminants from the Ne/He plasma along with precision optical adjustment of mirrors and interface windows resulted in a functional laser.
  • Work began on possible methods for analog amplitude modulation of laser beam. Experiments with materials whose refractive index changes with an imposed electrical field produced erratic results, but indicated that modulation was possible.
  • Research and engineering experience also developed in working with fluid flow and vacuum chambers.

Independent Study — 1961-63

Mentor, Dr. Arthur C. Guyton who also allowed access to laboratory and other facilities at University of Mississippi Medical School.

  • Explored the effects of gibberellic acid on podophyllotoxin production in leaves, roots and fruit of Podophyllum peltatum. Very slight increase in cellular density of leaves and volume of fruit and root.
  • Second experiment extracted podophyllotoxin from roots of Podophyllum peltatum. Self-tested efficacy on plantar warts. Experimental results were equivocal due to adverse reaction on normal skin.

Additional Biographical Information

Additional information about Lewis Perdue may be found at: LinkedIn and Lewis Perdue – Investigative Reporting Experience

 

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